For a long life socialist to move to a road called Kier Hardie Avenue in Wardley was a dream come true for Joe. Number one, was a three bed roomed semi-detached house which Hardie himself would have designated a palace. His father was still working at Monkton Coke Works, and the high spot of Chris's week during the holidays was to accompany his father to collect his wages. They'd travel on the red chopper bike that his brother Ray bought from his own wage packet for £32. For a long time the Waddle parents had supported the children; now that a son had the wherewithal to help the parents, it was typical of the close knit Waddle family that he should chose to do so. Of the five family members, Joe junior was the outsider, treading the tightrope of a life that could have gone anywhere. In the end he didn't fall, only stumbled a little.
By the time they had moved to Kier Hardie Avenue, Chris had "grappled to his soul with hoops of steel" those friends those friends he had who were tried and trusted. There was Peter Allen, of course, Keith Mullen - Sunderland and David Bowie daft, interested in very little else - there were the Renick brothers, Keith, Brian and Colin, and last, but by no means least there was Gary Durham.
Every child has a Gary Durham in his life, a friend in whom he can see no wrong but who is intensely disapproved of by the child's parents. Chris may have chosen Gary as his best friend, but Elizabeth conceived an immediate , irrational and enduring loathing of him. She had only reluctantly come to terms with the fact that Chris was already on the academic scrapheap.. Bill Quay's failures usually went to Highfield school, but even they were unenthusiastic about taking Chris and Gary, who were therefore farmed out to an establishment called Heworth Grange Comprehensive School.
By the time Chris reached his final year, there was not even a teacher willing to take on the football team and, with due encouragement from the one son he had left at the school, Joseph Waddle assumed the responsibilities of school team coach, unpaid and ultimately unappreciated.
Under his expert, if at times unorthodox, guidance, the team rose to the top of the league, but just as at every level of the game, success led to jealousy.  A teacher saw how well Joe was doing and decided to take over the team.  For the first time in his life, Chris Waddle decided to take on authority in the cause of justice.  With a rush of blood to his head, he stormed into the headmaster's study - an unprecedented act, even for a lad in his final year with some standing in the school.
"You can't replace my dad."
"We can't?" the head responded, in a tome that suggested Chris would be ill-advised to proceed further with the dialogue.
"If my dad's not the manager, then I don't play."
The headmaster was singularly unimpressed by the threat.
"Fine. Then don't play."
Chris had tried his hand for the first time at negotiation, at confrontation and appeared to have failed miserably.  As it was, for reasons that may or may not have been connected with his son's stand, Joe Waddle kept the job and his son kept in the public eye.
He was a regular in the Jarrow, Hebburn and and Felling District team and ended his school season and his junior school career with 66 goals to his credit.  There was only one match in which he failed to score, and it is typical of the man that he can remember every miss of that match some thirty years on.
(Above an extract from the book "Chris Waddle, the Authorised Biography" by Mel Stein.)

Chris Waddle was born in Gateshead on December 14 1960. Whilst playing for Tow Law Town he was signed by Newcastle United in 1980.
As a professional footballer he played for; Newcastle United 1980-81, Tottenham Hotspur, Marseille, Sheffield Wednesday, Falkirk, Bradford City, Sunderland, Burnley and England. Finally in 2000 for non-league Worksop Town.
His Honours: 1990 French Championship, 1991 French Championship, 1992 French Championship, 1993 PFA Player of the Year

Chris is to appear in a new reality football TV show and will be playing at St James Park, Newcastle on October 10 2004